Cedar Rapids Xavier defensive end Matt Nelson has kept a close eye on the Hawkeyes this fall during the football season. That has included a number of visits to Iowa City that left him very happy with the way the year went overall.

"It is exactly what I expected them to do with how hard their players were working and how their coaches were getting after them in the off-season."

Nelson had a chance to see firsthand what the Hawkeyes could do in their comeback win over Michigan last month.

"That was a crazy game because they played really well in the second half during that comeback," said Nelson. "It was really good to see them not giving up and to keep playing."